Im not sold on Hawaii being the number 4 team in the country. Top 10, for sure, number 4… not so sure. But the way the weekend went with Nebraska losing, obviously Hawaii moves up. But really, these rankings mean nothing.

We all know or should know that polls are marketing tools designed to get the attention of the fans and create interest and while we appreciate the rankings even the players know that RPI is the factor that gets you to the dance not polls.

Crawford is no Danielson. And Garber? please. hartong this early is heads above that. I really don’t see a lot of 97 in this team. Karratti/Satele perhaps. Overall, even this early, this team has a lot better chemistry.

At first when I saw the matchups I was wondering what they were thinking. I thought they would have played Kansas St first then USD but I liked how it worked out in the end.

The really experienced and good USD gave the coaches a chance to see what they really needed to work on against really good competition. I like that UHs weakness were exposed very early in the season.

I think the K State game really helped the hitters because after watching them give UCLA problems I knew that they had a pretty good block. In the past I know that UH struggled against good blocking teams and I thought this was a perfect matchup to help prepare the hitters for the match against UCLA.

Against UCLA I liked how the Wahine overcame the 2nd game voodoo but was a little disappointed in the let down during the 3rd. I really like how the freshmen stepped up their game on both sides of the net but would like to see more from the Wahine senior when it comes to serving.

I know I have been down on Mafua when it comes to serving that I think it is fair when I think she has done well so I would like to say that I feel she really came thru in the match with UCLA.

I really feel that Dave needs to give Kanani a few breaks during the games. I know she does a great job passing and is invaluable on the front row but she looked really exhausted after the 4th game against UCLA. There are times when UH will have to go 5 and we really need a strong Kanani in the 5th.

Shoji blames Sealy for putting USD as the opener (inside joke). but think it did work out well. Sealy even said he thanked UH for wearing down USD for them.
You make some valid points … as do the others. They are trying not to use Danielson as much. I’ve mentioned before that Shoji has told Mafua to spread the offense. But, as I’ve written elsewhere, when Danielson wants the ball, they give it to her. I didn’t see any exhaustion from Danielson at the end of UCLA. she was celebrating and yelling more than I had seen.
The comments always focus on UH. People tend not to give the other team any credit. UCLA put in Reeves in Set 3 and UH had not really talked about her during their pregame since Reeves didn’t play Saturday. Sealy knows Hawaii’s tendencies and he is a great in-game coach … so give the other teams some credit.

Cindy what did you think about the tournament? I know its delicate since you cover them and all, but give us your honest opinion about Uh versus the other teams. Why is it that I got the feeling that Dave felt iffy about the passing and setting throughout the tournament. Just by his talking to the girls on the sideline versus the other coaches and their talks to their girls. It seems as if Dave was frustrated often. What do you think has to improve before we face USC? How do you feel about Dave trying the other girls such as Tuiniga and Forsythe more than he did? And what is going on with Cacsioppo(sp)? She looks a lot slimer. I think she and forsythe could be used if Dave just gave them a chance the same goes for Tuiniga. I mean having them spot for the starters cannot really give a clear indication of how they will perform if they were starting and were given 100 percent backing from Dave. It seems like its more of apressure thing to come in and spot. Mean while if you start and make multiple mistakes you stay in well that is true for some players…why is that? Is it about favorites?

I wouldn’t call it delicate. I don’t work for the university. I do try to be objective soooo
Overall for an opening weekend I thought there were a lot of good things about this Hawaii team but some weaknesses as well. Pretty obvious that they don’t have the aggressive serving they had from Cubi-Otineru, Kaufman and Brandt, and they do need a third passer in most rotations.
The only way the ‘starting lineup’ is going to get better is by playing in game-situations together, so you’re not going to see Tuaniga/Forsythe in as much as you might like to see them, unless it’s either a blowout or he is desperate to change something.
You might see Uiato in more. I like the tempo she has on the ball and she does work well with all the other freshmen.
UH was clearly the best team out of the four. They cut down the service errors and mental lapses and no one would be grumbling quite as much.
Cascioppo has several medical issues that are being addressed. You can read more from a story last year. there’s a lot of privacy issues that don’t allow the staff to talk about it. All Shoji said Sunday was that she has health things they are dealing with.
shoji is a perfectionist. Perhaps you’re just noticing that he is talking to the players more. He knows they can play better and they did at times.
I don’t know where you’re going with the playing favorites comment. Do you have a specific example/name? He needs certain players to stay in, even if they aren’t perfect, while he has options at other positions.
SC will be another good test.

Thanks cindy, I guess I was stating something to the affect of what youre guessing I was trying to imply. I know Players like Kanani has to be in the game because without her the offense would be hugely affected. What I was wondering about was why he wouldn’t bring in all the other players for a live game time trial. Such as the other middle blockers and opposite. I mean to start and play all the way through than go over the stats and perhaps find a better line up based on stats. Also what about platooning the girls and making line ups depending on the opponents. That way you utilize everyone and not wear out other players. I was watching florida on tv and wondered why UH doesn’t have all the girls huddle when a time out is called. That way they all can be in on the game plan especially if they are called in from the bench. Florida has all the players hullded up and coaches are addressing their plans to everyone even the bench.

Different coaching styles (about huddling). This is nothing new with Hawaii. they huddle together when needed, they don’t when a coach wants to specifically talk to a player. Sealy used to talk to the setter during a timeout a lot, Kari does too, and Scott talks a lot with the passers. That’s their system.
are you suggesting a cauldron system like Wilton used? They did take stats during two weeks of practice prior to the season starting. The players who started are the ones who won those jobs. Stats are part of it, but so is chemistry.

Then using that logic. If those that won the spots prior to a game should falter while in the match what happens then? To me, by the time UH gets to the post season, if there is not adequate playing time for all the players, then you do or die with a handful of players even if you have others capable of sharing the load. If you ask me that’s risky. When you go that deep in the season, players can tire out injure out or worse just plain cannot finish. I’d rather all players develop so they can come in on any notice and save the match.

On TV it seemed like they scored a lot of points when Kaaihue was serving. Also seemed like the three new starters only had two shots – hard crosscourt and harder crosscourt.
I’m sure when they get more comfortable with their roles they’ll display a wider variety of shots. Looked like hitting hard was their comfort zone and they didn’t want to stray too far from it.
INGOODSTANDING – I was telling my seatmate that Hartong reminds me of Jessica Sudduth in her demeanor. Hartong hits a lot harder though.

Don’t have the boxes from the first two matches, but if you look at the UCLA match, Ka’aihue had 18 serves, they scored 7 points when she was back there. Hewitt 16 times, they scored 5, Mafua 16 serves, 4 points. Danielson 15 serves, 4 points.

Although it would be wonderful if the Wahine could pull out an undefeated season and maintain a top four ranking, I’m highly doubtful that the NCAA would grant UH one of the four top seeds in the final tournament due to a low RPI rating. So spare yourselves anguish and disappointment and expect to be seeded lower than fourth no matter what.

As for next week, USC had a triple revenge motive and they will be our toughest, most highly motivated adversary. No doubt they will be fired up with one thing in their mind – upset. Hope the Wahine can thwart them there. Of course, the other two opponents will also be equally on a revenge mission as Hawaii knocked them all out, one by one from the Final Four last December.

As long as we’re going with facts, Hawaii knocked out Michigan, not Michigan State, last season. The only time UH has played Michigan State was in the 1995 regional final at the SSC, Spartans ending the Wahine’s undefeated season.

There was no libero position on the ballot. the votes were for six players and an MOP. I did look at Gera’s numbers when looking at putting another UCLA player on the team besides McGraw. Ka’aihue had the better tournament if you were just looking at liberos. Notice there was no setter on the team.

I humbly will disagree. From statistics as well as my own eyes I really liked Gera over Ka’aihue. Had UCLA won the tournament I’m convinced Gera would have been on the All tournament team. Second match first serve to UH, Ka’aihue shanks the serve receive out. 23 digs Gera 14 Ka’aihue that one match alone. Games played to digs made, Gera out dug Ka’aihue. I’d rather a player earn an accolade than receive one because there were three spots to fill on an all-tournament team. Just my view.

I’m still a little disappointed in the play of our senior setter. She needs to and can play better.

Ms. Waber did some positive things the last nite. It appears she is intelligent and talented enough to make adjustments. She’s quickly learning this isn’t hi school VB and when the block is there, u can’t hit low seam, you’ve got to go high. She hit a lot of shots high off the hands. Kudos to her.

I’m a little concerned the team is asking Ka’aihue and Danielson to receive serve a large area of the court. The rest of their teammates are covering about 2 steps in either direction. When they face a player with a lethal jump serve (like a Destinee Hooker), they will have to go to a 3 or 4 woman serve receive pattern and I’m not sure how good the passing will be then.

This coming weekend UH will again clearly be the best team of the 4. They’re gonna chew up and spit out the WOMEN of TROY. See y’all there! Undefeated pre-conference baby!!!… On deck next???…. NATIONAL TITLE!!!…….

Another incident of of poor refereeing. I video taped the Ucla match, replayed this portion of the match various times. Sealy and his assistant complained about the last point awarded to hawaii ending game two. The controversy to the Bruin staff was not about the pancake dig(it was good), it was about the rightside linesman(again). The video shows the linesman right hand fully extended with the flag pointing down at the court. That should have signified that the ball hit the floor, end of play. Caught of guard the ball eventually came back to Ucla side of the court and they lost the point. Appeal to the top ref fell on deaf ears. The bottom ref Denise Hanson should have caught it, she only a few feet away. The tv comentators were also wrong, it was not the call on the pancake dig. It was about the linesman. To Sealys credit he voiced his concern and left it at that.

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